1952-59 Ford Starting in 'Park'

Is there a modification to the neutral safety switch to allow starting in park? Or is there a reason I wouldnt want to do this.

 

I am not sure if you have the question right or if you want to know what is done to the switch so it will only start in park or you want to modify it to start in any gear .
Yes you can mod the switch to start in any gear and NO YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT !!!!!!!
It's to PROTECT you from starting the car in gear ! When I was working at a Ford dealer one day , I was doing some engine work and had finished up the engine and needed to start the engine . Well it gad an automatic C4 trans . Anyway it was in drive for some damn reason and when I stuck my arm into the window to start the car still thinking it was still in park , the engine started just up fine with the choke engaged in the higher rpm setting and off the car went straight into my work bench ! I was very lucky that no one was there .
So you ask what does this story have to do with your question .... well the ***hole that owned the car had unhooked the neutral safety switch ! That was the first think I checked for after I turned the engine off because NO ENGINE SHOULD EVER START IN ANY GEAR BUT PARK ! Same goes with a standard trans as well .
I am not giving you are hard time for asking the question or picking one you or anything like that ! I am just telling you why you should NEVER do any modifications to a neutral safety switch ever ! It's there to protect you or anyone else that might be in the path of the car when it starts in gear !

Jim

 

I would try to adapt a switch from a C 4. They would start in P or N.
Retro JIm, some cars in the 50's had to move the lever from P to N to get it to start.

 

I wasn't suggesting actually modifying the switch so much as replacing it with a later part. I agree that no engine should ever start in any gear but park, but unfortunately that isnt how this was originally designed. The Neutral safety switch is neutral only.

 

After doing a little more research (which I should have done first) It appears the 1958 switch will do exactly what I'm looking for.

 

weather its safe or not my car starts in any gear. i just have to be smart enough not to do it.

 

Hey guys here's my 2 cents. On my 54,55 ford and (off topic car 59 Dodge) I installed a GM brake switch on paddle to back up neutral switch. In order to start car you have to step on brake car in park, then car will start.

 

when i have a automatic i always step on brake before i start the vehicle,and with a stick i always hold down the clutch and make sure the shifter is in neutral.......i just seem to always do it naturally....my gennie shifter has the safety switch removed and i have to be careful and make sure the girlfriend has it always in park when she starts my truck when shes driving it(i remind her everytime she takes it, she hates it). i guess ive always made sure the car was in park when i stick my hand through the window to start it while i was working on them,but can easily see how it can happen......

 

Yes I do remember the cars with NO park and only an emergency brake . The neutral safety switch was one of the BEST things ever put in a car ! I also always put my foot on the brake or push the clutch in when I start any car . Just a good habit I guess .

Jim

 

http://www.greensalescompany.com/ I got 1958 Ford start switch from this Co. Green Sales. Last time I bought one it was about $60.00. Much cheeper than a grill for a 55 or 56... Bolts right up to a 55 or 56, direct replacement. On a 54 you will need to get 55 or 56 switch mounting stuff. Gerry

 

The part number is B8A-15512-B i believe.

 

my aod has neutral safety built in to the reverse light wire harness plus my lokar shifter has a neutral safety so i'm double protected....hopefully!

 

Look for a B8A-15812-B switch. It looks the same and mounts the same as the '55 to '57 switch but allows you to start in both neutral and park.

 

I have a switch that is supposed to be for a 58. Part # B8AZ-7A247-A. Anyone know if this one works in park and neutral?

 

Does it look identical? a continuity tester should answer your question. A 1958 switch is a direct replacement, screws into the same bracket.

 

If the part is in the correct box, you have the 58 N/S switch.
Should start in park and neutral.
Regards

 

I bought a NOS switch for a '57 off Ebay that now let's me start my '56 in both Park & Neutral. If I remember correctly the seller was from Canada and he told me that he comes across them and sells them there when he finds them. It was a wire-for-wire swapout and took me less than 5 minutes to install.

 

56FRLN Do you remember what you paid? I think I had paid $60.00 or so from Green Sales

 

I know this is an old post but, does anyone know if the B8A-15812-A or -C will work in Park and Neutral also?